dis-claim'er, noun: a denial or disavowal of legal claim: relinquishment of or formal refusal to accept an interest or estate; b: a writing that embodies a legal disclaimer; c: a statement made to save one's own ass.

Chapter 6: Josephine

The resounding bass of the heavy metal music echoed in her ears as the young bluenette counted the repetitions she was lifting. Sweat poured from her brow; her dark brown skin glistened under the gym lights. She tried not to notice the stares from the other people inside the building. She knew she looked odd being a female able to lift over two hundred pounds, but she didn't care.

Josephine Rei Faun placed the weights back down on the floor as she finished her last set of bicep curls. She grabbed her towel to wipe her face off as she inhaled some cold water. She usually wasn't alone at the gym. Rekino normally came with her, but she and Hana were working at the hospital tonight.

Total shit. She thought. She had been going to gyms and working out by herself for years, but now that she had formed a friendship with the petite kunoichi she was used to having someone with her. Besides, Rekino would take a hit from her and not blink an eye. Iron body was part of Rekino's training as it was hers.

As she placed her water bottle next to her stuff, she saw two young children being talked to by an older man. She heard the word "grandpa" and there was a tug at her heart.

She was the baby of her family with her elder sister being twenty years her senior and her brother fifteen years her senior. Her eldest niece was only two years her junior. Her family valued honor and loyalty above all else and while she loved her siblings she felt no real closeness to them like she did her nieces and nephews. Her grandfather on her mother's side sat at the head of the family. He was stern and followed family traditions to the letter, but she was always the one to get away with things when she was at home.

Being the baby of the family meant certain treatment, and she was her grandfather's favorite. She had been named after her grandmother at her grandfather's behest the moment she had been born. Josephine wasn't a traditional Chinese name, but her great-grandparents on her mother's grandmother's side had apparently been obsessed with standing out from the crowd.

Her grandfather told her from a young age that she was destined for greatness and would one day save the world. She didn't understand how the child of a restaurant owner was meant to be a savior, but she didn't argue. While her grandfather doted on her she wasn't subjugated to working in the restaurant with her father and siblings. She instead got treated to intense martial arts training by her mother and aunt who brought along her older cousin, Kento Rei Faun.

Funny thing about her family was that her father and uncle were brother's and her mother and aunt were sister's. So, the children of her uncle and aunt were actually her double first cousins. It was hard to explain to most people because in-laws never really married, but apparently when her father saw her mother it was "love at first sight". So, it just kinda happened.

She and Kento grew close over the years. They trained together every day of the week unless it was a holiday, and even then their mother's still made them do something involving their training. It was usually punching drills or other conditioning, but not normal punching drills. Their mother's martial art practice was Iron Body Kung-Fu, which was not for the weak or timid.

Iron Body is a subset discipline within Shaolin Kung Fu. Students of this martial art form subject themselves to daily exercises that harden body tissue. The practice is applied to the legs, trunk, hands, arms, and head. The use of progressively harsher conditioning to make the skin and bones tougher to the point of being almost unbreakable

She and Kento started punching sand when they were three. They then progressed to heated sand...then pebbles...then heated pebbles...then iron shavings...then heated iron shavings, then finally they were given the task of punching a sheet of heated steel. The purpose was to be able to hit the steel fast enough that their hands didn't get burnt, but with enough strength to damage the object, which was not an easy feat.

She would go to school with bruises all over her body. Her teachers used to think she was being beaten at home, which was not far from the truth. Her body conditioning started when she was young, but after she reached a certain age her training then went to "hell in a handbasket" as Rekino would say.

When she started school her mother would wake her up before dawn, have her run with a rope tied around her waist with a weight at the end about ten feet behind her. So every time she hit a bump the weight would bounce off the ground and hit her in her ass or calf muscles which made her run faster. After school, she would punch a post covered with horseshoes with different parts of her body.

The training intensified year after year. When she reached the age of ten her mother started striking different parts of her body with an iron rod, which she had to stand still and take. This continued for a long while until the rod eventually bent, which was the whole purpose of the training.

She was taught to meditate at a young age. The purpose of it was to be able to send CHI to the areas of her body that had been damaged to heal it. Her meditation skill progressed to where she would be able to slip in and out of mediation while she was in school to heal herself before she got home.

Because of her training she was put on a strict diet by her mother and grandfather. She took in a massive amount of protein every day. Raw fish, lots of nuts, chicken, and raw meat. She wasn't allowed to drink anything except water unless it was a specific holiday with the exception of the small amount of alcohol she was forced to drink before training sometimes so she didn't feel pain when she hit certain objects.

The only down set to Iron Body was that her hands were really only good for fighting. She couldn't do things like draw or sew. Her handwriting had been terrible from a young age so she taught herself how to abbreviate so no one was subjugated to reading her illegible script.

Year after year her training became more and more in depth. Harsh conditioning to the point her body could withstand being hit by almost anything. After her conditioning reached a certain point her mother then started to teach her technique. That was when Kento joined her. They were preteens by this time.

Her training with her cousin was what she enjoyed the most. They were together spring, summer, fall, and winter year after year. When she was younger she never thought that she would be as close to Kento as she was by the time she was fourteen. They were almost like brother and sister. During holidays and family get-togethers their grandfather always made them show out for the family. Not to be prideful because that was frowned on, but she enjoyed that the most.

One day during summer break she showed up at the family temple for training. Kento never showed. She let it slide, but when one day turned into a week and that week turned into a month she started to worry. He never missed training. Her auntie and mother brushed her inquisitions aside. When she finally asked her grandfather he responded with "fulfilling his destiny".

A year had passed since she had seen Kento. She didn't get a single phone call, but had gotten one letter from him that was short and explained he was in Japan. She turned sixteen that year. Her family had gone on vacation for a month to a temple to the North where it was cold. While there she noticed her nieces and nephews were acting strange. She had lost connection with them when she started training with Kento.

When Aria and her brothers snuck out one night she followed them. They went into town to vandalize and steal from some of the local businesses. Before they retreated back to the temple she had left so she could confront them when they arrived back from their nefarious activities. A fight broke out. The rest of their family was awoken by the ensuing chaos.

She knew her nieces and nephews weren't bad. She knew in her heart that something else had caused them to do this, so she did the only thing she knew to do.

Josephine took the fall for the stolen items and vandalism in town, and with that came the subsequent punishment. She was forced to return all of the stolen items and clean up the damage that had been done. It took her over twelve hours of hard work in the cold and snow. That night after she finished cleaning up the town she returned to the temple. Her mother told her to go to the basement to meet with her grandfather.

The moment her feet hit the ground from the last step the door shut behind her. She called out to her grandfather, but no one answered. In the corner of the room, it looked like a figure was sitting in a chair. As she inched closer, she felt a tug at the very core of her soul. When the figure started glowing a burnt orange color was when Josephine noticed that it was a suit of armor.

That was when her forehead started burning. The orange light absorbed the armor completely and it shot towards her. She landed harshly on the concrete ground as the light was absorbed into her forehead. She looked around frantically before she caught her reflection in the mirror.

Justice.

Images flashed in her mind. She saw a man with long, white hair with a blue tint talking to another man with white hair who wore a straw hat that covered his eyes. It looked like they were discussing what to do with nine large boxes that were decorated in gold with different symbols on the front. The man in the straw hat bowed to the other man before turning away. The other man turned towards her and gave the hand signal for "okay" with a cheeky grin. He winked at her then disappeared.

The family vacation had been cut short after the vandalizing incident. When they returned home her eldest niece begged for forgiveness and told Josephine of a gang that she and her brother and sister had been bullied into joining at school. After being given the details, Josephine told Aria she would handle the situation and not to worry about anything.

After the family had gone to bed, Josephine snuck out into the cool night and - with all the skills her mother had taught her - hunted down the members of the gang and let them know what true justice was. Her nieces and nephews were never bothered after that.

Kento had returned home the summer she turned seventeen. She had been training with her armor for almost a year at that point. When she saw her cousin for the first time in almost two years she felt like someone had tugged on her soul. The breath was knocked out of her. She knew then that they were connected by something other than blood. She could tell that Kento hadn't felt it so she didn't let it bother her. During her after training meditation she was finally given an answer as to why she had been bestowed a mystical gift and the odd connection to her cousin.

She was his Lady Guardian. Same coin, but different sides. She was meant to fight with him against a great evil that was to come in the future, but she didn't know when or how it would happen. That was also the first night The Balance spoke to her.

"Lightning doesn't strike in the same place twice, young one. Seek out the light that has come to China."

Then he was gone. Still confused as to what the hell was going on she knew that the only person she could ask was her grandfather. She was up with the sun the next day eager to talk to her mentor, but life had a way of putting one lower when they were already down. She knew something was odd when her entire family was in the living room of their home.

Her grandfather had passed in his sleep. No warning had been given that he was sick or unhealthy.

Heartbroken and lost, Josephine spent the next week with her family planning the funeral arrangements. Kento returned home immediately when he had been given the news. Josephine took comfort during her grief with her cousin's presence. She had forgotten about the silly cryptic message until it smacked into her.

Literally.

While going to pick up the floral arrangement for the funeral, Josephine bumped into someone, well, what one would consider a bump. She knew that whoever made contact with her had to hit the ground hard because she was a solid, unmovable mass. When she offered her hand to help the girl off the ground, it was like lightning shot through her body. It was at that moment she looked into the midnight blue eyes of Hana Rai Utano.

When the symbol for Grace flashed on Hana's head, Josephine's mouth opened in awe.

"It's you," they both said in unison.

Josephine mused that in the time of her deepest despair was when she found her greatest joy. Her grandfather's funeral proceedings lasted a week, but during that time she was able to make plans to start going to Japan. She didn't tell her parents until after their patriarchal figure was laid to rest, tho. She didn't think they would be able to handle the news; however, they both smiled and told her that they had expected as much. Grandfather had apparently left one more guiding wisdom before he passed.

"Let Josephine find her own path in her own way. She is destined for much more than what is here."

With the inheritance she was left by her grandfather, Josephine moved to Japan two weeks later. When she got to the airport she was told they were waiting on another member of their "cult" as she liked to call it. The petite brunette that walked through the gate introduced herself as Amaya Blanchet, the bearer of the Guardian Armor of Torrent. Josephine called her a "little French tartlet" in which Amaya retorted to refrain from calling her that ever again.

She met Mia Koji, bearer of the Guardian Armor of Strata, shortly after they had moved into their communal home in Shinjuku. Mia had been the one she had been most anxious to meet because she had been around Kento for the last several years. That night the group listened to Mia retelling the stories of the battles with Talpa, Shikaisen, Mukala, and Susanagi. To say that she had been filled with pride was an understatement. Her big cousin was a hero. She knew he would kick ass.

The final member of the crew arrived two days later. Rekino Sanada was probably the tiniest full grown human she had ever laid eyes on, but had the longest hair of anyone she had ever seen as well. When she opened her mouth and spoke, Josephine couldn't help but laugh. Her Japanese was perfect, but the accent she had was absolutely hilarious. Rekino went on the defensive saying it was where she was raised and that "all of y'all can kiss my lily white ass".

An interdimensional portal opened with a resounding "pop" after that. A woman dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono with cascading purple hair appeared in the room. She introduced herself as Kayura, the last living member of the Clan of the Ancients, and the one who would help teach them to fight and use their armors as a group. She transported them to the Nether Realm after that where they were greeted by eight other people. Four men and four women. They were introduced as the four Seasonal Warlords and their respective guardians.

While they trained in the Nether Realm, Josephine felt a deep rivalry with Rajura, the Warlord of the Spider and Summer, and Rubi Mercado, the guardian of his armor. While Rubi wasn't proficient with fighting she was able to use the armor's power of illusion and throw off Josephine's senses, but months of training led to her teaching Rubi some technique and Josephine learning from Rubi how to not let her senses be clouded by magic.

When not training, Josephine worked with Amaya at a local bakery. She wasn't as good at cooking like her colleague, but Jo did know her way around a kitchen. She was raised by a family who owned multiple restaurants. She also took classes at a local community college for business management. Her dream was to be able to take over her family's business once she saved the world.

She had been in Japan for over six months. It was mid August right now. She talked to her mother and father at least once a day. Since she moved she had yet to run into Kento, which she didn't know was a blessing or not. The urge to find him and talk about everything that she has endured was deep. She wanted to tell him she was his guardian. She wanted him to know how hard she was training to protect him and to defend the Earth.

Kayura said that now was not the time to reveal themselves. Josephine didn't know if that was the will of the cosmos or the fact that Rekino was supposed to be dead and she was to stay hidden. Whatever the reason, Josephine knew that something was coming and that they needed to be prepared.

As she was packing up her stuff to leave the gym, Josephine felt a tinge down her spine. She turned around to meet the espresso colored eyes of her self proclaimed rival. She smirked.

"Look what the spider dragged in."

Rubi tucked her black hair behind her ears and said something in Spanish while making a menacing gesture. She was a native of Puerto Rico and versed in many languages. Her native tongue being what she restored to when she was slinging insults.

"That kind of attitude isn't good for your health, ya know. Could get your ass whipped."

"Maybe if you spent a few weeks in traction it would change your attitude," Rubi rolled her eyes. "I was sent to find you by Fiona."

Fiona MacAlpin, Guardian of the Armor of the Ogre and Spring, is the leader of the Seasonal Guardians. The four ladies were all older than the elemental guardians and had careers in the medical field. They run a small clinic in Shinjuku called "Shi Onna" (Four Women) and use the powers of their armors to help people who suffer from mild to severe mental disorders.

"She says it's urgent. I delivered the message to Amaya already."

"Well then," Josephine flung her bag over her shoulder, "let's not keep her majesty waiting."

Next chapter: We start getting into the actual story! All of the seasonal guardians are going to be introduced as well as some new characters. As always, read and review!

Side note: I want everyone to know that all of the information I tell about the martial arts is being told to me by a man who has studied and practiced for over forty years. He is a fourth degree in Ninjutsu and a black sash in Twin Dragon Fists Kung Fu.

Name: Fiona MacAlpin (Fee-on-uh Mahc-al-pin)
Age: 24
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 132lbs
Hair Color: Red (curly, shoulder blade length)
Eye Color: Emerald Green
Ethnicity: Scottish
Birthdate: December 21st
Birthplace: Perth, Scotland
Astrological sign: Sagittarius
Blood Type: O-
Favorite Sport: Golf
Martial Art: Dragon kung fu
Interests: golf, swords, gardening, dancing
Dislikes: People who have no honor, beans
Language: Gaelic, English
Armor: Armor of the Ogre/Spring
Virtue: Loyalty
Weapon: Kusari-gama, a scythe connected to a clawed weight by a chain.
Profile: A nurse practitioner who goes to school to get her doctorate. The leader of the Seasonal Guardians. She and the other three armor bearers opened a clinic in Tokyo using their armor attributes and virtues to help those in need. She is in love with Kayura, but is afraid to tell her
Armor of the Ogre: Disorients opponents and uses joy to cloud their judgment for a short period of time. She can absorb kinetic energy while fighting and use it to increase her power and stamina for a short period. Once she uses this ability, her energy levels off and cannot use it again.
Fiona's Closet: She prefers shades of dark red and black. At the clinic she wears her scrubs. At home she prefers to sit around in overly large shirts and socks. When she goes out with her friends, she will usually wear a long or short skirt with Scottish patterns and tops that are button up with collars.